Liberia breaks ground on first utility-scale solar plant
Work has begun on a 20 MW solar plant in Liberia, on the site of an existing 88 MW hydropower station. The Liberian government says it is the first of several planned projects that will help to address the country’s power shortages, particularly in the dry season.
Can Israeli PV tenders preserve competition in a concentrated market?
Researchers have studied Israel’s clearing price method for PV tenders and raised concerns about its potential for long-term dominance. They examined how power abuse and technological inefficiencies lead to market inefficiencies, concluding that a duopoly best suits the Israeli market.
Germany adds 960 MW of solar in September
Germany installed 960 MW of solar in September, bringing its cumulative PV capacity to more than 94.52 GW.
Japan’s Toyo plans 2 GW solar cell factory in Ethiopia
Tokyo-based Toyo Co. says it will invest $60 million in a new 2 GW solar cell factory in Ethiopia, to mostly serve the US market.
Sweden’s first large-scale agrivoltaic park inaugurated
Production is now underway at Sweden’s first large-scale agrivoltaics park, owned and operated by Svea Solar. A power purchase agreement is in place with a local vertical farmer for the electricity produced, while the farm underneath the solar panels will produce rapeseed, ley and wheat on a rotational basis.
UK’s largest PPA to date signed for 373 MW solar park
Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners announces two long-term agreements covering 100% of solar power generation at Cleve Hill Solar Park. British supermarket retailer Tesco has signed a 15-year agreement covering 65% of generation and Shell will manage remaining capacity under 10-year route-to-market deal.
Germany wraps up ‘innovative’ tender with average price of €0.0709/kWh
Germany has concluded a new renewables tender, securing 583 MW of capacity at an average price of €0.0709 ($0.0771)/kWh.
France’s Carbon involved in patent case with JA Solar
France-based PV manufacturer Carbon is currently involved in patent proceedings with JA Solar over tunneling silicon oxide (SiO2) layers, doped polysilicon layers, and electrodes in tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) solar products.
Italy preps energy storage auctions
The appropriate minister has signed into law a decree which will allow electricity transmission system operator (TSO) Terna to stage procurement exercises, possibly as early as the first half of 2025.
Chinese PV Industry Brief: China Resources finalizes PV module tender
China Resources Power has finalized its 1 GW module procurement for 2024 with Astronergy, while China Power Construction has secured 1.5 GW of n-type heterojunction (HJT) modules through a separate tender.
